Travis Head Clarifies His Celebration Of Rishabh Pant’s Wicket At MCG
Travis Head has clarified that his controversial celebration after dismissing Rishabh Pant during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was not intended to offend. Following his wicket, Head made a gesture by placing one finger into a circle formed by his other hand, which some former cricketers and fans interpreted as disrespectful. Head explained that the gesture was meant to indicate putting his “finger on the ice," a phrase he coined during a previous series in Sri Lanka after taking four wickets in a match.
In an interview Head stated, “I started it in Sri Lanka… I put my finger on the ice and be ready to go for the next one.” Australian captain Pat Cummins supported this explanation, adding humorously that Head’s finger was “so hot” he needed to cool it down.Despite these clarifications, former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu criticized Head’s actions, calling them “obnoxious” and an insult to 1.5 billion Indians. He urged for stringent punishment to deter similar behavior in the future. The incident has sparked significant discussion, particularly as Australia secured a 184-run victory over India, taking a 2-1 lead in the series ahead of the final Test in Sydney starting January 3.